NTUC FairPrice seeks used textbooks for needy

Andrew Loh / Deputy Editor

Supermarket chain, NTUC FairPrice, is asking for donations of used primary and secondary school textbooks from Singaporeans. In a press release, FairPrice said the aim is “to relieve the financial burden of needy families by providing free second-hand textbooks for lower-income families.”

Called the FairPrice Used Textbooks Project, and first launched in 1983, the project “has collected more than 1.5 million used textbooks and helped over 110,000 needy students” over the years, FairPrice said.

“Amid the economic downturn, FairPrice is glad to play our part to rally the community to help needy students meet their textbook needs,” said its Group CEO, Mr Tan Kian Chew. “We appeal to the public to donate their old textbooks generously. We hope that the FairPrice Used Textbook Project will continue to help needy families reduce school expenses.”

This year, four schools will be taking part in the “annual community initiative” for the first time. They are Yio Chu Kang Secondary School, Swiss Cottage Secondary School, Saint Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School and Zhang De Primary School. Together with students from Montfort Secondary School, Anderson Secondary School, Dunman High and Hwa Chong Institution, they will collect, sort, store and distribute the textbooks to the needy.

“By engaging students as volunteers, the project also encourages volunteerism and promotes the spirit of community service,” FairPrice said.

From now till 30 November 2008, the public can make their donations at all NTUC FairPrice supermarkets and hypermarkets across the island.

Details of distribution of the books will be announced in early December.  For enquiries on the project, the public can call the Used Textbooks Project hotline at 6424 7505 or email [email protected]

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